Paint The Void Art Walk

Celebrates Our 100th Mural with a Socially Distanced Art Walk Around Union Square

Artist Kate Tova paints at Sushi Nagai in downtown San Francisco
Photo by Lisa Vortman

Paint the Void is partnering with the Union Square Business Improvement District to unveil two new murals by Bianca Rivera and Rachel Wolfe-Goldsmith whose completion will mark 100 murals created by Paint the Void. This new partnership invites the public to join a celebratory and socially distanced Art Walk to safely explore the murals, and also drive foot traffic to the small businesses who have lost customer support due to quarantine.

The Art Walk is available for self discovery via an online map. See here: https://www.visitunionsquaresf.com/mural-art-walk (map by Su Quek). You can also sign up for one of the guided tours lead by Heather Jain, There are 3 tours, each will take approximately 1 hour. The tours are limited to small groups of 10. You will need to wear a mask and maintain social distancing.

The socially-distanced guided tours will take place on Sunday, September 27th. Visitors will be able to meet and greet the artists at their respective murals along the walk!

Matley Hurd paints at Hotel Zeppelin
Photo by Lisa Vortman

Join Paint the Void in Union Square Sunday, September 27th from 12-noon - 4 p.m. The 100th live-mural painting will be located at the plywood barricades at the SFMTA station on Geary at Stockton (across the street from the Union Square Park). COVID safety regulations are strictly enforced, art walk participants must wear a mask, small groups and social distancing is required. Paint the Void, Union Square BID and muralists will only be out if air quality is considered satisfactory and air pollution poses little or no risk.

Union Square Mural Map

A library of photos of the existing Union Square Murals are available here

Paint the Void Video

"May You Be Safe" mural detail by Mariana Prutton for Oi Funds
Photo by @maximillian

ABOUT PAINT THE VOID

Paint the Void is a fiscally sponsored 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, born from an idea to help keep artists engaged and paid as guardians of hope and beauty in a time of fear and uncertainty. Public art organization Building 180 and nonprofit, Art for Civil Discourse joined forces to raise funds for artist grants as a response to COVID-19. Since mid-April 2020, we have facilitated and supported the creation of 100 murals in San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland, funding over 95 artists. Paint the Void is funded through small individual donations, grants and collaborations with larger institutions for permanent murals. Please donate by visiting www.paintthevoid.org and reach out for sponsorship opportunities #paintthevoid

ABOUT THE UNION SQUARE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT:
The Union Square BID serves members and creates a high quality visitor experience by managing and activating public spaces, attracting new investment, and advocating for the District’s future success. Union Square is the vibrant heart of San Francisco and an international destination where visitors come to enjoy exceptional retail experiences, luxury hotels, world-class cultural institutions, and great public spaces found only in the City by the Bay.

ABOUT THE UNION SQUARE ART WALK
Sign up to join us for a self-guided or guided tour on our eventbrite. Self-guided tours are available for your own use; a downloadable and printable map can be found here: https://www.visitunionsquaresf.com/mural-art-walk. One-hour guided tours will be available on Sunday September 30th at 12 p.m., 1:15 p.m and 2:30 p.m. and are limited to 10 people per tour due to COVID safety restrictions. Tours will be guided by Heather Jain with opportunities to meet and speak with both the muralists and members of the Paint the Void Team. Heather Jain is an NYU Institute of Fine Arts-educated art historian, former SFMOMA curator and current educator.